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New tip sheet on brown marmorated stink bugs for homeowners

A new resource about brown marmorated stink bug identification and management in homes is now available.

Considering the diversity of agriculture in Michigan, the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has potential to be a very damaging pest. In the eastern United States, crop yield losses in apples alone were 18-32 percent in 2010, with damage exceeding $37 million. Michigan’s economy depends largely upon agriculture, particularly specialty crops. We are first in the nation in specialty crops such as dry beans, red tart cherries, blueberries, squash and cucumbers for pickles, and are in the top 10 for 63 other commodities. Most of these are at risk of attack from the BMSB.

BMSB also feed on a wide range of native and introduced ornamental plants in the landscape and can be an unwelcome guest in homes during fall and winter. A new tip sheet, “The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB): Information for Michigan Residents on a New Home Invader,” has just been released by Michigan State University Extension. Written by MSU Department of Entomology’s Paul Botch and myself, the tip sheet provides a handy reference for homeowners who may have not yet encountered BMSB, or for those who are beginning to find it in their homes. It contains a guide for identifying BMSB and illustrates other common home-invading bugs. Tips on preventing its entry into homes and for eradicating it once it enters are also covered.